Brake-actuating mechanism



Aug. l5 1924.

Figil l,503,838 R. M. LovEJQY y BRAKE ACTUATING MECHANISM original Filed Aug. 4. 1919 2 sheets-sheer 1.

. l 1,503,838 R. M. LovEJoY BRAKE ACTUATING MECHANI SM Original Filed Aug. 4, A1919 2 Sheets-Shut 2..

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Ralph M. Lovejoy v I` Ays.

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Patented reine. 5, 1924.

narran stares Maaate PATENT netten.

RALPH M. LOV'EJOY, OF MEREDITH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

BRAKE-ACTU'ATING MECHANISM.

@riginal application filed Augi'ust 4, 1919, Serial No. 315,051. Divided and this-app1ication filed February 7, 1921. Seria! No. 443,600.

To all whom t may' concern.'

Be it known that I, RALPH M. LOVEJOY, a lcitizen Aor" the United States, and resident etA Meredith, county ot Belknap, State` of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Brake-Actuatingv Mechanisms, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

rhis invention relates to improvements in brake mechanisms for vehicles.

The'present application is a division and a continuation of my prior application No. 315,051, filed August 1, 1919.

"The usual Jforms of brake actuating mechanisms heretofore employed have comprised levers connected to the brake and operated by a brake lever within convenient lreach ot' the operators hand or foot, the power beingtransmitted from the brake Alever to the brake through a system of levers and links. Vhen a machine is running upon a road, and particularly upon a rough road, there is a considerable amount ot vertical Vvibration and certain longitudinal movements between the brake lever yand the brakes which are likelyto cause a rattling' in the connection between the brake lever and the brakes. Furthermore, the wearing of the brake shoes and other iembers ot the braking system causes considerable lost motion between the brakes and brakedever which renders the brake more or less inelective.

The present invention contemplates the use of a rotatable power-transmitting means adapted to be actuated by the brake lever 'which in turn actuates the brakes whereby 'the binding of vthe brake, due to the strain upon the car, will be eliminated.

y notherobject of the invention-'iste pro-l vide a rotatable equalizing means operable by a brake lever with rotatable means for transmitting the motion of the' equallzmg means to the 'respective rotatable brake ap iaturther object ot the invention is to provide means for transmitting -the rotary metten trein the equalizing means to the r'otatfible brake applying means with unialf-preferably extensible, Y u will enable. both longitudinal and lateral movement betweenathe equalizer and the brake applyingw means without straining or otherwise a ecting the brake applying mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means for automatically taking up any lost motion which may occur between the brake lever and vthe brakes so that the braking mechanism will always remain in e'ective condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supplemental means operable by a brake lever which, when the brake lever reaches a predetermined position, is operable to actuate the braking mechanism with increased leverage.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear Jfrom the io1-` lowing description and the annexed drawings and willbe pointed out in the accomi panying claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the coupling;

shown in Fig'. 4 viewed from the left side of said figure. l

The present invention is illustrated herein as applied to an automobile chassis which comprises the usual side frames 1 and 2, a front axle 3 provided with wheels 11 and 5 and a rear axle 6 containing a' differential and a suitable shaft for drivingthe rear wheels 7 and 8.

The wheels 7 and 8 may be provided'livith any usual type ot brake which maybe adapted to he operated by the constructibn Aforming the subject matter ot this invention.

The brake actuating mechanism comprises brake actuating shafts journalledin suitable bearings in tubular housings 9 y'which may have enlarged'bases 10 suitablysecured to the housings 11l which contain the brakes. Brackets 12 may also be prof vided to connect the bearings more securely ies to the rear axle or to the frame if so desired.V Each of the brake actuating shafts is provided at. its end with a gear 13, preferably a mitre gear, which engages a complementary mitre gear 14 upon a shaft 15 which is connected by a universal' joint 16 with a transmitting rod 17 which desirably is connected at its other end through a universal coupling 18 to the shaft 1i) of a mitre gear 2O which meshes with a mitre gear 21 upon one of the members of a rotatable i equalizer.

A operating rictional instrumentalities,such

as those disclosed in my prior patent aforesaid, desirably are connected'to the shafts 22 and 24. Arms 26 and 27 extending upwardly from the shafts 22 and 24 respec tively are.l connected to a common rod .28 which in turn is connected to an adjustable instrumentality, preferably made in two sections 29 and 30 leading to the brake lever 31 which may be pivoted upon a shaft 32 supported'at its ends on the -side frames 1 and 2.` "By reason of this construction a powerful leverage multiplying mechanism is provided since the arms 26 and 27 act through the shafts 22A and 24 to rotate small gears 21 the radius of which lis very short relatively to the length of the arms 26 and 27 which in turn actuate the gears of the transmitting rod 17.

By providing a frictional instrumentality 33 connected to the shafts 22 and 24, like that disclosed in-my prior patent aforesaid, the amount of power transmitted to the brakes operating upon the respective rear wheels may be made substantially equal. Inas- 'much as this specific mechanism, however, is

immaterial to the present invention detailed description of it is deemed unnecessary.

' y effective action.

In usual brake constructions for vehicles, such as automobiles, the 'brake leveris connected directly to a lever upon an equalizer which in turn has arms connected by links to levers for actuating the brakes. Continuous use of such brake' meclianisms'has always 'resulted in the wearing of the brakes, or the connecting mechanisms, in such a' manner that it is necessaryto press the brake further .and further as the wear takes place to obtain In the present invention means are provided for automatically taking up the lost .motion thus acquired in the braking mechanism. A preferred means for accomplishing this purpose consists of a sectional connec? tion etween' the brakelever and the equalizer, the said sections being connected by such a suitable means, such as pawl and ratchet mechanism which may be automatically operated to shorten the connection as required, invention contemplates broadly any means for thus automatically taking up suchlost motion.

In the preferredembodiment of the 1nvention disclosed herein the .section 29 of the instrumentality which connects the'brake lever to the equalizing lever is provided with an enlarged portion 34 having a ratchet face 35. This enlarged portion is enclosed within av housing 36 which is secured to or formsc a part of a section which is connected to the brake-lever' 31. The housing 36 desir; ably has an enlarged upper portion 37 vprovided with u wardly extending bosses 38 in which the ful) n tal lever 40 is mounted. The lower end of the lever 40 carries a p'votally mounted pawl .41 which engages theeeth of the ratchet'y 34. The pawl 41 may be retained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet by gravity or in any 'other suitable manner.

A helical spring 42', connected at one end to a boss 43 and at the other end to a stud 44 extending across the housing 36, serves normally to .retain the lower end of the lever 40, which carries the pawl, in retracted position and to advance the-upper end of the lever for a 1purpose which will liereinafter be more fu ly disclosed.`

A locking dog 45 is-also provided which` is conveniently mounted upon a shaft 46 extending across the housing l36. The do 45 desirably is provided with atail 47 which is-connected to one'end of a spring 48, thev other end of which is anchored to a,suit

able stud 49 upon the housing 37. The.

but it is to be understood that my crum shaft39 of a supplemen-` spring '48 tends tol retainA the dog 45 in en-r4 gaofe'ment with the teeth 35 ,of the ratchet.

stop, which desirably is in the form of a bar 50,- extends across the frame in the path of, the lever 40 and effectively engages the lever 40 when the brake mechanism is` so adjusted or worn sufficiently to permit the advanced end of the lever 40 to engage the rod 50 as the bra-ke' is being applied. It will be obvious that-when thus engaged and the brake lever advanced still further `the lever 40 will be rocked about its fulcrum, thus advancing the 'pawland with it the ratchet 35. The lever 40 thus! l becomes a supplemental brakin .lever'w'hich increases the e'ective action of the braking i mechanism. When the ratchet has beenthus advanced the distance of one tooth the lock- C ing dog 45 will engage the next succeeding l tooth in the ratchet andretain the amount thus taken up., Upon release of the brake, the' connection to the equalizerwill be retracted and the upper end of the lever 40 removed from itsengagement with the rod U, The spring` ii will vthen withdraw the.

lower end oll the lever l() causing the pawl al to engage a diilerent 'tooth upon the ratchet 3.3, thereby setting); the device tor the next taire-up operation. -lt will be noted that this actionoot the supplemental braking lever lo will cause a greater movement ot the braltc actuatingA mechanism than that usu.,illyrequired even it the movement is insufiicient to cause the ratchet tov be advanced so that a more perfect braking ac` tion is possible than in usual constructions. This increased eliciency ot the braking mechznism is especially advantageous when theautomobile is being! operated in heavy traiiic where sudden stops are frequently necessary.

A spring 51 interpiiised between the head of the rod 29 and the vend ot the housing ,36 serves normally to force the cas ing 37 forward and to retain the ratchet in kproper engagement with the pawl -ll and dog Li5 notwithstanding any .sudden ,releasing-ot the brake lever.

lin the operation o'l l 'airingmechanisms there is considerable twisting of the connec' tion between the equalizer and the brakes by reason of 'the uneven degree ot' ele vation ot the sides `of the frames when runningy over a rough or uneven road. ln order to avoid this difiiculty and to produce a more etlicient brakingy mechanism l'. have provided a. system hi gearing.` such as that. above de scribed, for transmittiiig motion from the equalizer to the brake; actuating' shafts and have interpose in said transmittinel mecha- 4nism one or preferably ay plurality ot. ex-

tensibie joints 16 and 18. The preferred torni of extensible joint is illustrated in Figs, i and 5 and the description ot one of l said joints will se've as ai description for Y apply the brakes.

all.

The shaft 19 is provided at one end with i ayoke 53 in which a gate 54 is mounted,

the yivot-al ends and of said gate pret erab y extending' through journals in the yoke, so positioned that the pivotal axis of the gate is at right angles to and intersects the axis of the shaft i9. The `nate 5l is provided with extensions 5?' and which serve journals for a pivotal shat't 59 of an arm or web G0, the upper portion of which is provided with pivotal connections (31 to a yoke (32 upon the end ot the. shaft 17.

actuation of the brake lever 3l causes the oscillation, 'through the equalizer, of the arms 2G and 2T oi' the shafts and El, thus rotatingI the gears )l and 20 thereby rotating the shaft 1S) Awhich.y acting through the, universal joints i8 above described, operates the transmitting` rod li to llE there. is any longitudinal movement between the sliaiit ll and the transn'iilting.rod lvit will be coi'upensaicd i'or b v the movenui-nt ot the' arm 60 ot' the universal coupling' about its' pivot 5t) without' in any wise aliectinp; the proper operation olf the shaft.

lt will be noted that except for the extensibilitjY of the coupling members the coupling operates as the usual type oi universal joint in which the sections of a sha'l't are pivoted respectively lo a common member so that the axes ofthe pivotal connections stand atl right angles to cach other.

ln order to prevent too great longitudinal movement between thcI shalt-lll and the transmittiup,` rod liihe gate 5l desirably is provided with ahoolvlile exlcnsion (3?) which overlies the end oi the arm or web (3() and limits itsy movement beyond a predetermined distance.

ly reason o'f this extensible universal (,-ouplinrA 'any amount of movement, either longitudinal or lateral. between the equalizer and the brake shalt will be coinpenfaitei'l for and the eiective operation ot' the brake at all times insured. l

It will be understood that the embodiment oiE the inventiondisclosed herein is A illustrative and Vnot restrictive. and that various n'unlilirations in structure and arrangement oil parts nm)Y be made within the spirit and .scope of the following' claims.

Having' thus described my invention, what i claim as new. and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent, is:

i, Brake mechanism comprising a brake, means for actuating' the same including a brake lever, and means coi'mecting said brake lever to said brake automatically operable to take up lost `motion during the bralcc-apjilying movement ot the brake lever.

Brake mechanism comprising a. brake, means tor actuating' the same including a brake lever, means connecting said brake lever to said brake automatically operable by further brake-applying movement of the brake lever to take up -lost motion and simultaneously to increase the force of application of the brake.

3. Brake mechanism comprising a brake, a brake lever, asupplemental lever inten mediate ot said'hrake and brake lever automatically operable when said-brake lever is advanced beyond a predetermined position to apply said brake.

`rl. Brake mechanism comprising a brake, a brake lever, a sectional instrumentality connecting said brake lever to said brake, a supplemental lever and means for automaticallyactuating' said supplemental lever when said brake lever is advanced in its ln'ali'e-applying?y movement beyond a predetermim-d position to increase the action oi said brake.

Brake mechanism comprising a brake, means vfor actuating' the same includingV a brake lever` a sectional instrumentality conl' paivl and ratchet mechanism carried by thel f lever', a sectional instrumentality a brake lever, 'a' sectional instrumentality including a` pawl and ratchetl carried by the .respective sectionsof said lnstrumentality,

means operable to actuate said pawl when the brake Vlever is' advanced in its brakeapplying movement to a predetermined point and upon further movement of said brake lever to cause said pawl to advance said ratchet, and means for locking the ratchet in advanced position whereby the sectional instrumentality will -he automatically shortened.

47. Braking mechanism comprising a plurality of brakes, rotatable brake actuating shafts, a. rotatable equalizing means, rotat able means connecting said equalizing means to said brake actuating shafts, a brake connecting said hrake lever to said equalizing means,

respective sections of said instrumentality, means for actuating said pawl when 4the -thereof engaging ,brake lever to brake lever'is advanced in its brake-applying movement to a predetermined position whereby the effective length of said sectional instrumentality will he shortened and, means in the Anected to one of 'the members of said Vsectional instrumentality and a rack telescopically mountedl in saidhousing'connected to instrumentality, a lever fulcrumed upon said 'oasinghaving a pawl on one arm said rack and. the other arm thereof movable into engagement with a'y stationary member during the 'brakeapplying movement of. said brake lever and operable upon of said sectional instrumentalityand a o mounted upon saidcasing engaging sai rack actingvto retain thel sectional lustrumentalities in said shortened condition.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification.

. RALPH M. LOVEJ OY.

further movement of said shorten the effective len h the other member of said sectionalv 

